National Volunteer Week is recognized April 17 to 23, honoring the many selfless individuals who donate their time to various causes across the country. Prowers Medical Center is proud to have a wonderful team of volunteers who contribute their energy and positive attitudes to the hospital, including the selfless volunteers in the hospital’s Auxiliary.

The Auxiliary

To learn more about the Auxiliary, call 719-336-5723 or stop by The Shoppe at Prowers Medical Center during regular business hours.

What do the Auxiliary Volunteers do?

The volunteer-led association assists in the delivery of Prowers Medical Center programs and services to the public. Nearly half of the Auxiliary members contribute handiwork — crafting everything from blankets and quilts to tea towels — to be sold at The Shoppe in the hospital.

While the intent of the gift shop is to provide a welcoming place where patients can purchase items, the money earned is used to purchase new hospital equipment and provide programs and education for patients in need.

The Auxiliary has nearly 60 total members. Several of them consistently work in the gift shop at Prowers Medical Center. The Shoppe is open Monday through Friday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.

While the volunteers do a lot to help with the gift shop and fundraising, the driving force of the volunteers is to offer a helping hand when it’s most needed. This year is Lois Schroeder’s eighth year volunteering with the Auxiliary. She said she is grateful for this community, the hospital employees, fellow Auxiliary members and especially the faithful volunteers who keep the gift shop running.

“Volunteers donate thousands of hours and are involved in many activities that enhance the hospital and the overall patient experience. They do so much behind the scenes; but most importantly, they are there for patients and families in their time of need,” Schroeder said.

Fundraise with the Auxiliary Volunteers 

While The Auxiliary’s fundraising activities have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic over the last two years, they are still pushing forward. This year they have been able to fundraise with several events including the Senior Citizens Craft Fair and the Snow Goose Festival.

The team of volunteers has also provided four $500 scholarships to second-year students in the Nursing Program at Lamar Community College, as well as donate to the Lamar Hospice Area Ministerial Alliance and the Sparrow House Ministries — but they want to be able to do more.

The Auxiliary’s Book Fair fundraising events are scheduled to take place in May and September this year. Schroeder said they are usually very successful events, but they haven’t been able to hold them for the last two and a half years because of the pandemic.

“It will be so great to see everyone’s faces again,” Schroeder said.

Thank You Auxiliary Volunteers!

Besides running the gift shop and making homemade gifts to sell, auxiliary members also help the hospital in many other ways. Examples include being there for patients in times of need, taking them from surgery to their families in the waiting area, even making gift bags and personalized cards for chemo patients who have completed therapy treatments.

“Our volunteers are dedicated, and they care about others,” Schroeder concluded. “They are compassionate communicators and help make Prowers Medical Center a more comfortable place to be.”

Thank you to the volunteers in the Prowers Medical Center Auxiliary, as well as the many other volunteers who choose to donate their time at our hospital!